Monday, October 19, 2009

COMMENTS: See those numbers atop the post, and how some of them have a strike line through them, and some of them don't? Math geniuses might have gleaned that it marks how many wins we have to achieve this postseason to claim the ultimate title. And we've got just about the same amount of marks now as we had last year, after sweeping another NL Central team in the first round (the Cubs), only to hit a roadblock against the Phillies.

In fact, there's a lot of parallels to where we were last year at this time. Down two games to one, we were coasting along with a 5-3 lead in 2008 NLCS Game 4, having scored five runs off of the same Philly starter we'll face tonight, Joe Blanton (5 ER in 7 IP in 2008 NLCS Game 4; 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 2009). We then met up against Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs, both of whom hit two-run home runs in the eighth to put the Phillies ahead for good. Game 4 was the backbreaker last year, and this year's Game 4 looks to be the series fulcrum again.

This time around, however, things will be different. For one thing, we've got Randy Wolf going for us; Wolf was yanked early (after 3.2 IP, with the lead) in Game 1 of the NLDS, and hasn't pitched in 12 days. He may be rusty, but he'll be rested and ready to go deep; his 2.78 road ERA, fifth in the league, also bodes well. And even Philly fans love and respect Randy Wolf, even though he's a Dodger now.

For another thing, we've got karma on our side (not to mention Fox, who would love a Dodgers-Yankees World Series). And karma will take down reliable, trusted players just the same as anyone else in its wake. Matt Holliday? Bonk. Chase Utley? Bonk. The Phillies might have slept well last night, but the karma police will come, and that fridge-buzzing is about to become a detuned radio.

I am going to be running around during gametime but I am going to try and comment as much as possible. When we comment a lot, we win. I don't have data on this yet, but I'm going to assume it's true and act accordingly.

No, I remember all sorts of random shit like that. Just never anything of major import, like what Mrs. Dusty asks me to do for chores or a grocery list (at least, a list that doesn't just consist of beer, bloody mary mix, baseball cards, etc.).

By the way, if our postseason GT comments are any indication...there is no correlation between number of comments and Dodger win/loss outcome. Three of the six games got into the 600s, with mixed outcomes.

On the other hand, we haven't had a 2009 postseason GT get to the 700s! Hmm...

Kings of England are a mess anyway. One can't be choosy about the country they're originally from. Hell, we only speak modern English because the Plantagenets couldn't be bothered to learn the language properly.

I've always admired that about the English character. No other being but an englishman could take an pompous, presumptive, illegitimate foreigner who invaded their country and subjugated their population and turn him into a revered national hero.

Sax, I'm just now getting to this news item in your post-game post. The credit card system was down and it was cash only? You are kidding! WTF? I never carry cash. I would have had to watch from Short Stop.

Dusty: I hear you, it was ridiculous. It's bad enough that the little cart vendors all over the place don't take credit cards. But the actual concession stands? During a playoff game? I'm sure that there were lost sales as a result.

What's worse, they cut off beers to ONE beer per person, as of the sixth inning, thanks to the cops on site. I thought that this might have been due to the day game, but it was true for Game 1 as well. Weird.

Yeah, why no card transactions at the cash only carts? There are usually few people in those lines and massive amounts of people in the food+beer lines. Dodger management: can we get a little load balancing love for once?